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High Sierra Ranger District Fire Danger & Restrictions

Stage 3

Safety brief

Updated

High fire danger today.

The Grant Grove Fall Rx fire is currently 466 acres and growing. Fire danger is high in the High Sierra Ranger District. Campfires are prohibited in the backcountry and restricted above 10,000 feet in wilderness areas, though they may be allowed in designated campgrounds. Portable stoves are permitted with a valid permit. Always check current conditions and specific campground rules before your trip.

Restrictions

Campfires and Stoves

Equipment and Work

Shooting and Closures

Backcountry campfiresProhibited

Campfires prohibited in backcountry; restricted above 10,400 ft (south) and 10,000 ft (north) in wilderness; prohibited in specific lake areas.

Conditions

  • Prohibited outside designated recreation sites and wilderness areas
  • Prohibited above 10,400 ft south of Mt. Henry–Hot Springs Pass–western John Muir boundary ridgeline
  • Prohibited above 10,000 ft north of that ridgeline
  • Prohibited within ¼ mile of specific lakes in Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness (Sadler, Rutherford, Staniford, Vanderburgh, Lady, Chittenden, Jackass Lakes, Margaret Lakes area, Silver Divide lakes, Cold Creek lakes, Mono Creek area, South Fork San Joaquin area, Fleming Mountain lakes, Red Mountain Basin lakes, Woodchuck Country lakes, Blackcap Basin lakes)

Exceptions

  • Persons with Forest Service Permit FS-7700-48
  • Persons with valid California Campfire Permit may use portable lantern or stove with fuel shut-off valve
  • Persons with valid Wilderness Permit may use portable lantern or stove using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel
  • Recreation residence owners with Special Use Permit
05-15-00-26-1005-15-00-26-09
Campground campfiresAllowed

Campfires allowed at designated campgrounds and picnic areas listed in Exhibit A.

Conditions

  • Only at designated recreation sites: Badger Flat, Dinkey Creek, Mono Creek Trailhead, Badger Flat Group, Dorabelle, Portal Forebay, Bald Mountain Base Camp, Dorabelle Picnic, Rancheria, Bear Wallow, Dowville Picnic, Sample Meadow, Billy Creek Lower, Florence Lake Picnic, Swanson Meadow, Billy Creek Upper, Gravel Flat, Trapper Springs, Billy Creek Picnic, Jackass Meadows, Upper Kings Group, Bolsillo, Kirch Flat, Vermillion, Bretz Mill, Kirch Flat Group, Voyager Rock, Buck Meadow, Lily Pad, Ward Lake, Catavee, Marmot Rock, West Kaiser, College, Midge Creek Group, Wishon Village, Deer Creek, Mono Creek campgrounds and picnic areas
05-15-00-26-10
Propane fuel and camp stovesRestricted

Portable stoves with fuel shut-off valve allowed with valid permits; Wilderness Permit holders may use gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.

Conditions

  • Requires valid California Campfire Permit or Wilderness Permit
  • California Campfire Permit: portable lantern or stove with fuel shut-off valve
  • Wilderness Permit: portable lantern or stove using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel

Exceptions

  • Recreation residence owners with Special Use Permit may use stove fire at residence
05-15-00-26-1005-15-00-26-09
Welding and grindingProhibited

Welding and open-flame torches prohibited.

Conditions

  • Welding prohibited
  • Acetylene or other torch with open flame prohibited

Exceptions

  • Federal, State, or local officers in official duty
  • Persons with Forest Service Permit FS-7700-48
  • Non-recreational activity authorization holders (timber harvest, forest products, grazing)
05-15-00-26-10

Restrictions last checked

Near-surface wildfire smoke forecast

Estimated AQI*

0max avg 0 µg/m³ around 2 PM

Good wildfire smoke

Next 24 hours

Forecast updated Oct 25, 2026, 2:00 PM

District average10th–90th percentile

* Estimated AQI is an equivalent interpretation of forecast wildfire-smoke PM2.5 only; it is not an observed or official AQI reading.

Hourly wildfire-smoke PM2.5 forecast across the district
Local timeDistrict averagep10p90Estimated AQI*Smoke category
Oct 25, 2:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 3:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 4:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 5:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 6:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 7:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 8:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 9:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 10:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 11:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 12:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 1:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 2:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 3:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 4:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 5:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 6:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 7:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 8:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 9:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 10:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 11:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 12:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 1:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke

* Estimated AQI is an equivalent interpretation of forecast wildfire-smoke PM2.5 only; it is not an observed or official AQI reading. HRRR forecasts near-ground smoke; district values are area-weighted, conditions vary by location, and other pollution sources are not included.

Check current observed air quality on AirNow (opens in a new tab)

Recent changes

30-day fire danger history

Last 30 days

Stable at High since Sep 26.

Open official source

Ratings and restrictions are collected from official source pages and may lag agency updates. Always confirm current fire restrictions, closures, evacuation notices, and emergency guidance with the responsible agency before starting a trip.

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